Potato-digger.



PATENTED SEPT. 15. 1903.

W. I. SKINNER. POTATO BIGGER.

APPLIUATIOKIILBD NOV.18, 1899'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

[NI EN TOR WJLLMM QSKJNA'Z'IL f P57;

YNE uowms PETERS ca. vumouma. WASHINGTON. u. c.

No. 738,951. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903. w. I. SKINNBR. POTATO BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1899.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

70 WITNESSES: [/VVE/VTOR Attorneys Patented September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFIC WILLIAM I. SKINNER, OF RIOHFIELD, NEW YORK.

POTATO .DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 738,951, datedSeptember 15, 1903.

Application filed November 18,1899. Serial No. 737,421. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM I. SKINNER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and

a resident of the town of Richfield, Otsego county, New York, (whosepost-office address is Ohepachet, Herkimer county, New York)haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvemen in potato-diggers, particularly apower-oper ated machine to dig and separate the potatoes from the soil,leaving the potatoes exposed on the surface in a readily-accessibleposition.

The invention consists in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure1 is a perspective view of a potatodigger constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the machine. Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the levermechanisms.

The machine, preferably of suitable type for draft purposes, is mountedupon drivingwheels 1, suitably ribbed to prevent slipping, the spokes 2of which are preferably cast sinuous to provide for expansion andcontraction. The wheels 1 are loosely mounted upon an axle 3, suitableratchet mechanism of any well-known or preferred type-such, for example,as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3being arranged to causeoperative engagement of the wheels and axle when the machine is movingforward and permit the disengagement of these. parts when the machine ismoved rearwardly, the object and necessity of such arrangement beingwellunderstood in machines of the character of my invention and requiring nodetailed description. I k

The main frame 4, of angle steel and substantially U-shaped, is mountedupon the axle 3, being provided with suitable axle-receiving boxes 5.rests contiguous to the rear end of the drafttongue 6 of the machine,being adjustably connected thereto through the medium of a lever 7,pivoted to the main frame and suitably held when in proper position bythe usual dog and notched segment 8. An angle-arm 9,secured to the lowerend of lever 7, is formed The front rail of frame 4 at its free end witha slot 10, to receive a pin projecting from the tongue.

in bosses l2, rising from the main frame 4. The adjustable frame is mademovable with relation to the main frame through the medium of atransverse shaft 13, suitably mounted on the main frame 4 and provided withfixed arms 14, each carrying a link 15, pivoted to the adjustable frame.ably held by the usual dog andnotched segment17, is secured to shaft 13and serves to operate the latter to adjust the frame 13 in an obviousmanner.

The plow or digging-shovel 18, with its rear side portions turned up, asat 19, is supported by standards 20, secured to the upturned parts 19and to the adjustable frame 11 and is braced and supported by braces21,-extending from standards 20 to the frame 11. The shovel issubstantially V-shaped and ordinarily depressed, so that the pointed endwill enter the ground beneath the potatoes therein.

the shaker-head 22, in which is secured a series of shaker-fingers 23,preferably in steel wire bent in U shape to form two integral fingersand held in alongitudinalrecess in the shakerhead by bolts or rivets. Arapid reciprocating motion is imparted to the shaker-head and fingers bypitmen 24, secured to the head and pivoted in the eccentrics 25, mountedon a shaft 26, pivoted on the adjustable frame 11. Motion is imparted toshaft 26 through a sprocket 27, secured on the shaft, connected by alink belt 28 to a sprocket 29, mounted on a shaft 30, journaled inadjustable frame 11. A small sprocket 31 is also fixed on shaft 30 andis driven from a sprocket 32 on axle 3 by link belt 33. Idlers 34 and35, mounted in brackets 36, fixed to frame 11, permit the accommodationof the link belt 2 8, and 33 to the adjustment of frame 11. r

-To render more effective the reciprocation of the shaker-fingers, Iprovide means for increasing the aforesaid movement, such meanscomprisinga bow, spring-plate 37, arranged transversely on the rear barof adjustable frame 11, being centrallysecured to the frame, with itsupwardly-projecting free ends secured by flexible connections, such aschains Immediately in rear ofthe shovel is located ll represents anadjustable frame pivoted A lever 16, adjust- 38, to the ends of theshaker-head 22. The reciprocation of the shaker-head throughmechanismhereinbefore described causes in termittent tension on the freeends of springplate 37 in an obvious manner, hence increasing materiallythe shaking and rocking motion of the fingers 23 and increasing theirefficiency.

39 represents cutters vertically arranged within the plane of wheels 1and rigidly secured at their upper ends to the adjustable frame 1], asshown. The cutters are suitably braced by rods l0, fixed thereto andextending to the upturned sides 19 of the shovel 18. The cutters aredesigned to cut vines, weeds, and sod in advance of the shovel.

The shaker-head is supported by links 41, secured to the end portions ofthe head forwardly and upwardly, with curved portions extending overaxle 3, the forward ends being connected to the adjustable frame 11. Itwill be noted that links 41 form a support for the shaker-head and thatsuch is in the nature of a spring-support, owing to the length andinclination of the links. Hence the direct vertical movement of theshaker-head otherwise resulting from the operation of the pitman QetlSinterrupted bythe link-support and converted thereby into a jogging orvibrating movement. As this movement is exerted against the tension ofspring-plate 37, it follows that such tension will act to increase thereciprocation, rendering the movement of the fingers much more effectivethan the ordinary vertical reciprocation incident to prior structures ofthis class.

The drivers seat a2, supported from the draft-tongue, is arranged aboutover axle 3 to enable the driver to use his weight to balance themachine. Levers '7 and 10 are arranged to be conveniently operated bythe driver on seat 42.

The operation of the machine is apparent from the above-detaileddescription read in connection with the drawings, it being understoodthat the shovel passes beneath the potatoesin the ground, being adjustedat an angle, and that earth and potatoes are forced rearward on theshovel and guided between the upturned ends 19 onto the shaker-fingers23,

in'the reciprocation of which the potatoes areseparated from the earthand finally forced off the free ends of the fingers to lie exposed onthe ground, when they may be readily gathered. The operation of thespring-plate 37, tending to increase the reciprocatory movement of theshaker-fingers, acts to materially assist in the separation of potatoesand earth, thereby preventing the clogging of material on the fingers,which is an objectionable feature incident to other machines of thischaracter.

It will be noted that the shovel, shakerfingers, and other operativeparts are supported solely from an adjustable frame and that theirposition may be varied as desirable bythesingleadjustmentofthisframe.Hence the angle of the shovel may beyaried, its cutting depth may bealtered, or the entire mechanism maybe lifted from operative position bythe single adjustment of the frame 11 in the desired direction. Theadjustment of the main frame with relation to the drafttongue alsopermits ready variation of the angle of the shaker-fingers and shovelwith relation to the ground.

It is evident that various changes may be made in the constructions andarrangements of parts described without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to theexact details described.

\Vhat I claim is 1. Ina potato-digger, a main frame, an adjustable framepivoted thereto, a shovel, shaker-fingers, means for reciprocating saidfingers, and cutters located in advance of the shovel, all supportedsolely by and adjustable with said adjustable frame.

2. A potato -digger comprising a frame, a shovel, supported thereby,shaker-fingers in rear of the shovel, mechanism for reciprocating saidfingers, and means independent of said reciprocating mechanism forvibrating the fingers.

A potato -digger comprising-a frame, a shovel supported thereby,shaker-fingers in rear of the shovel mechanism for reciprocating saidfingers, and spring connections independent of saidreciprocatingmechanism for.

vibrating the fingers.

4. A potato-digger comprising a frame, a shovel supported thereby,shaker-fingersin rear of the shovel, means for reciprocating saidfingers, a spring-plate secured on the frame, and connections betweenthe springplate and shaker-fingers.

5. A potato digger comprising a main frame, an adjustable frame pivotedthereto, a shovel supported by the adjustable frame, shaker-fingerssupported by the adjustable frame in rear of the shovel, means carriedby the adjustable frame to reciprocate the fingers, and springconnections between the fingers and adjustable frame, as and for thepurposes stated.

6. A potato-digger comprising a Wheeled frame, an adjustable framepivoted thereto, a shovel supported by the latter frame, a shaker-headyieldingly supported-from the adjustable frame, fingers secured in saidhead, and means carried by the adjustable frame to reciprocate said headand fingers.

7. A potato-digger comprising a wheeled frame, an adjustable framepivoted thereto, a shovel supported by the latter frame, a shaker-headyieldingly supported from the adjustable frame, fingers secured in saidhead, means carried by the adjustable frame to reciprocate said head andfingers, and a spring connection between the adjustable frame andshaker-head.

8. A potato-digger comprising a frame, a

ICC

shovel supported thereby, shaker fingers adapted for reciprocation fromthe frame, a bow spring-plate secured to the frame, and connectionsbetween the said spring-plate and shaker-fingers.

9. In a potato-digger, a main frame, an adjustable frame pivotedthereto, a vibrating separator, means for reciprocating said separator,and links secured to said adjustable frame and inclined therefrom andsecured to said separator.

10. In a potato-digger, a main frame, an auxiliary frame adjustablysecured thereto, a shaker head and fingers, inclined links forming thesupport for said shaker-head and connected to the adjustable frame, andmeans yielding support for said shaker-head.

Signed by me at Richfield Springs, New York, this 8th day of November,1899.

7 WILLIAM I. SKINNER.

Witnesses:

(J. H. SKINNER, J. D. REED.

